April 14, 2004 -- To keep those hotel beds full during off-season periods, hotel owners and innkeepers will dream up almost anything, piling gimmick upon gimmick, even lowering prices when they have to. Being adventurous is part of the American Way, so we proudly salute some ideas which have come across the desk recently, and which may encourage you to hit the road.
A picnic and ice cream cones are part of the lure at these three B&Bs calling themselves the Historic Inns of the Quiet Corner. (The Quiet Corner is the northeastern part of Connecticut, about three hours from New York City, just over an hour from Boston and under an hour from Hartford or Providence.) They have a two-night "Sweet Summertime" package starting at just $195 per person that's good between April15 and August 31, 2004, a saving of 20% off their regular prices, they say. Included are two nights lodging with a "scrumptious" breakfast daily; a three-course dinner at a selection of local restaurants; a "gourmet, multi-course" picnic; a winetasting; and two waffle cones of "homemade, farm-fresh" ice cream; plus all tips and taxes. This deal is available at:
- Celebrations Inn in Pomfret (877/928-5492, www.celebrationsinn.com)
- Daniel Trowbridge House in Pomfret (860/974-3622, www.danieltrowbridgehouse.com)
- Friendship Valley Inn in Brooklyn (860/779-9696, www.friendshipvalleyinn.com)
The same three inns have spring- and summer-themed packages available as well.
Up in Anchorage, you can view the Alaska sunset on a "Summer Weekend Escape" package priced at $209 per room for one or two people, with a $30 food and beverage credit. All this at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel, which has two other, more expensive, deals involving champagne and truffles. Call 866/866-8086 or visit www.millenniumhotels.com for details.
The Mohonk Mountain House, a venerable (built in 1869) but fully refurbished institution in New Paltz, New York, wants you to check in this month for midweek discounts. Sunday through Thursday night stays through April are discounted 20% off regular rates. If you come on weekends in April, it's just 10% off. Of equal interest is a "Midweek Massage & Meal" package, good through the end of the year for a day visit (meaning you get use of the hotel's facilities without checking into a room). Valid Monday through Friday, and you get either breakfast or lunch buffet, a 50-minute Swedish massage, for $119. Another program is the "Meal, Massage and Day Room" package valid through May 26 that gives you the massage, the breakfast or lunch, plus afternoon tea and cookies and a room for the day, costing $175. Mondays through Thursdays only, from 9 to 6. Finally, they have a "Midweek Rejuvenation Special," also good through May 26, costing $275 per person per night. It's valid only Sundays through Thursday nights, excluding holiday periods. You get three meals per person per nightly stay, the room, afternoon tea, a welcome gift, 50-minute massage per person per night, and 10% discount on additional massage services. Tax and tips are additional. All offers are subject to availability. This 251-room "Victorian castle" is just 90 miles north of New York City. Contact Mohonk Mountain House at 800/772-6646 or visit www.mohonk.com. (You can read senior travel editor Alexis Lipsitz Flippin's personal account of her stay at Mohonk by clicking here.)
Finally, don't forget our friends in the smaller lodging places. Many areas have a program similar to that in Daytona Beach, where the 2004 Superior Small Lodging Guide is now available. This lists the 55 members of the organization, with maps, photos, descriptions and rates. To get a free copy, contact the Daytona Beach Visitors Bureau at 800/873-7178 or 386/255-0415 or visit www.daytonalodging.com.
